82 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



About Marblehead, Mass., says Mr. Dodge, tbey are greatly dimia- 

 isbed and are less numerous than most otber species. 



Mr. Horatio Babspn states tbat the value of the catcb of menbadeu 

 off Gloucester iu 187G was nearly $800,000. Mr. George W. Plumer 

 estimates $750,000 for the New Euglaud coast. George Norwood esti- 

 mates its value at from $300,000 to $500,000. 



Capt. Charles C. Pettingell estimates the number taken iu Salem 

 Harbor at 2,000 barrels. This is probably below the actual figure. 



Mr. Horace M. Mercbant, of Lanesville, Mass., estimates the catcb in 

 tbat viciuity at 750 barrels. They are taken mostly by gill-nets, 300 of 

 whicb are iu use, and are sold for bait. 



Mr. J. G. Pond, of Provincetown, estimates 1,000 barrels for tbat port. 



At Plymouth, Mass., accordiug to Mr. Thomas Loring, the menhaden 

 are very few and are diminishing. 



About Wellfleet, Mass., states Mr. Dill, the number is greatly dimin- 

 ished on account of tbe bluefishj they are not so numerous as the 

 mackerel ; tbe capture for the past eigbt years (in 1873) bas been about 

 $500 worth a year. In 1874 about 6,000 barrels were taken in the bay. 

 Fishing does not appear to diminisb tbeir numbers. 



Capt. Hanson Grabam and Capt. Zepbaniab P. Lanman estimate the 

 catcb of Wellfleet for 1877 at 20 barrels. This is far too small. 



Capt. Henry E. Hatch, of North Eastbam, Mass., states that many 

 menhaden are taken in the pounds of that neighborhood. 



Capt. Solomon Dinnel, of East Orleans, thinks tbat 100 barrels are 

 taken in the gill-nets belonging in that town. 



At Provincetown and Truro, Mass., according to Mr. David F. Loring, 

 the fish are greatly diminished ; they are more numerous than any other 

 fish in late April and May. Only 1,000 to 2,000 barrels were taken in 

 1873. 



At Chatham they are more numerous than any other fish, though 

 they do not enter the bay so plentifully as in former years. From 3,000 

 to 5,000 barrels have been taken annually for the past six years. Cap- 

 tain Hardy does not think that their abundance is affected by the fish- 

 eries. 



Mr. Kenney states that at Nantucket pogies are the most numerous 

 fish. They vary in abundance from year to year but for the past ten 

 years, as a whole, their numbers remain about the same. Fishing does 

 not affect them. On the other hand Capt. S. H. Winslow, line fisher- 

 man, testifies: "The menhaden are very scarce now (July 19, 1871), 

 and I think we shall lose them too very soon, because they are using them 

 up for oil.* In this month and from the 20th of June the ocean used to > 

 appear to be literally covered with menhaden. Now there are not a quar- 

 ter as many as there u&ed to be. People think they are i^lenty because by 

 using a purse-net one or two hundred fathoms long they can purse i 

 several hundred barrels at a haul." 



* Report of Uuited States Commissioner of Fish aucl Fisheries, 1871-72, p. 46. 



